Canada: Musqueam and Snuneymuxw First Nations announce plan to acquire River Rock Casino Resort

The Musqueam Indian Band and the Snuneymuxw First Nation have reached an agreement in principle to jointly acquire the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia, positioning the two Nations to take ownership of the province’s largest casino.

River Rock Casino Resort is currently owned and operated by Great Canadian Entertainment, which has begun accepting bids for both the casino’s business and its gaming license.

The resort features a 70,000-square-foot gaming floor with 1,100 slot machines and 75 table games, nearly 400 hotel rooms, a 1,000-seat theater, and several restaurants, including the recently opened Gordon Ramsay Steak. Its lease with Great Canadian runs until December 2041.

The Musqueam Indian Band said it had been exploring options for acquiring River Rock for much of the past year as part of its long-term development and investment strategy. In September 2025, the Snuneymuxw First Nation approached Musqueam about partnering in the purchase. Musqueam’s council voted last week to support the agreement in principle.

“We thank Snuneymuxw First Nation for respecting our traditional territories and following our shared cultural protocols by approaching us about a partnership to acquire River Rock,” said Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow.

“This is an example of Nations working together, not against each other, building economic prosperity for both our communities that will support more jobs and opportunities for our band members.”

Snuneymuxw Chief Michael Wyse stated: “In the spirit of partnership and respect, we seek to move forward with our Musqueam relatives with one heart, and one mind. Together, we can advance a shared vision of economic strength and self-determination for both our Nations.”

The site has historic significance for Musqueam. In 2008, the British Columbia government reached a reconciliation agreement transferring the lands occupied by the River Rock Casino Resort and the University Golf Course at the University of British Columbia to the First Nation.

The province provided CAD 70 million (US$49.8 million) in settlement funds to help Musqueam acquire both properties from their then-owners. The agreement requires the golf course to remain in operation until at least 2083, limiting other development options.

Separately, the Snuneymuxw First Nation announced an agreement to purchase the Chances Maple Ridge Casino through its development arm, Petroglyph Development Group (PDG). The Musqueam Indian Band is not part of this second deal. The transaction remains subject to closing and regulatory approval.

PDG has rapidly expanded its presence in British Columbia’s gaming sector, acquiring Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria in January 2025. Together with the proposed River Rock and Maple Ridge acquisitions, Snuneymuxw is set to become the province’s largest Indigenous-led casino operator.

According to the B.C. Lottery Corporation, River Rock remains British Columbia’s top-performing casino, generating CAD 252 million (US$179.3 million) in gambling revenue during the 2024–2025 fiscal year. That includes CAD 162 million from slot machines and CAD90 million from table games.